The Forest Republican. [volume] (Tionesta, Pa.) 1869-1952, 1887-09-07
THE ALLIGATOR MARKET.
STRANGE SIGHTS IN A SOUTHERN
SAURIAN MERCHANTS STORE.
How the Hideous Reptiles Are
Caught and Cared Fora 15O-
Years-Old Alligator.

Caught and Cared Fora 15O-
Years-Old Alligator.
GLOW do you sell the best, madame"
asked the inquisitive reporter of quiet
looking woman who was the one peace
full object in the screaming noisy world
about her.
"Well, l hardly know how to answer
that question" she responded, her voice
pitched high enough to penetrate the
chirping squeaking, cawing and growing
of the congregation of feathered folk
fluttering about. ''You see, they come
at most any price, and when l tell you
they come all the way from fifty cents to
5000 apiece, you can understand how
prices vary"
As is well known, sugar, oranges and
alligators form three staples in Louisiana
exports and internal revenue, and it was
to discover the exact condition of the
crocodile market and whether the
seasons catch had been good that visit
was paid by reporter to the big tanks on
Chartres street.
Alligators are brought into town in
every stage, from an embryo state in the
egg to great, angry monsters dozen feet
long, tipping the scales hundreds of
pounds. Men hunt their hideous game
after dark, stalking the swamps, drag
ging lagoons and wading through low,
oozy Marshes where vast numbers of al
ligators abide. Several methods of capt
uring them are resorted to. Those
caught with hooks are only fit for i'm
mediate killing, as they scken and die in
short order. The big ones are lassoed
and smaller fry shared in a heavy seine
made for this purpose. The hunter
realizes he is after dangerous game with
lots of vicious habits, and so, besides
binding their stupid eyes by lamp worn
in his cap, he is prepared to send a sooth-
ing bullet whenever necessary.
After bringing in his find Of eggs, the
crocodile farmer heaps them in boxes and
simply depends on time to do its perfect
work. In the course of weeks the in
fant gnaws and claws at the hard shell
until he finally squirms his way into the
world.
Passing through the big bird store the
alligator region is reached. 1t is pretty,
garden-like place, with tender, lacy vines
trained in delicate festoons up the lattice
against the dark brick wall Great red
pots hold rich foliage plants that lend a
tropical air to the spot, fitting the in.
habitants of the long cemented tanks.
! These troughs are built six in row, the
occupants being carefully graded accord
ing to size. Twice week the water
must be changed for the salubrity of the
atmosphere. Twice week refreshments
are handed round, beef lights as a rule,
delicacy for which alligators havea very
pronounced penchant. The half grown
variety eat from five to six at a meal, dis,
tending their uncomely, shapeless
stomachs until the receptacles refuse tc
hold another particle. They feed only
at intervals but have voracious appetite,
then.
They are very ugly creatures, with
wretched dispositions as the reporter had
fair opportunity of discovering. Hang
ing over the side of the tank in playful,
almost intimate relations with the beast
his sheltering umbrella gave tip too fal
and touched the extreme point of the
things snout. 1t was enough; with q
| terrifying below and blowing off OF
steam the infuriated being rose two
inches out of water and sent his OBJ
server exactly three feet in the air. Il
was u oONtlt oliONh anu lldo BCutldltb IC
spect, if not admiration, for the alliga
tors sensitiveness. Lying in the sun
shine, every grizzly feature is accentuated
Their great shovel heads float on the wa
ter with stupid, evil eyes that blink like
yellow eNcrcscences on a mud-coloreC
surface. a tiny, minute slit in the snout
admits enough air TO enable them tc
make a sound frightful enough to scare
the stoutest-hearted.
The keeper of the tanks said hundreds
were sold yearly to travelling showmen
numbers being sent to Europe as curiosi
ties, besides many that were bought by
Northern visitors. Saloon owners buy
them constantly to keep on their coun
ters as an attraction to possess, Chicago
and ST. Louis being noticeable among
the number. An artist here in town Sc
them up with all sorts of comical de
vices. He stuffs them with cotton
and fashions preachers, lawyers, gam
blers, organ grinders, cotton handlers
and duellists out of the ridiculous littlt
figures.
The saurian merchant has perfect treas
ure that he keeps in close quarters anC
guards as the fairest jewel of his entir,
collection of beauties. 1t is huge, evil
smelling, sluggish reptile, measuring
twelve feet, whose age is calculated a
one hundred and fifty years. He lie
sprawled out on the floor Of his trough
in state of torpid stupidity. The crea
ture looks bored TO death and wit
enough malignity in his depraved yellow
eyes to devour every visitor who studio
his handsome proportions.-Ne'o Or'eaE
Times Democrat.